Inside the bizarre Beijing Auto Museum

There are many blue-chip sports cars in the collection like this blue-eyed Jaguar XK120

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The museum houses more than 80 cars and was opened in late 2011.

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The Beijing Auto Museum is housed in an impressive building covering 50,000 square metres

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

A museum visitor looks at an early Hongqi based off an old Packard platform. The gold script to the right reads "as hot as fire"

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

Admission to the museum costs 50 Yuan which is equivalent to about $9 Canadian.

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The collection spans a wide range of cars from a third generation Supra to a 1920s Rolls Royce.

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

Seems they were excited about the Auto Show as well

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The majority of the signs and information plaques at the museum are translated in English as well as Chinese.

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

This 1960s Chinese bus is full of creepy statues

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

A Hongqi CA770 stands proud among the red flags that are its namesake.

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

There are a ton of model cars on display throughout the museum. These ones are inexplicably spray-painted white.

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The information plaques can be a little amusing at times but we're just thankful that they're translated into English!

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

These plaques wind around three floors. there must be hundreds of them!

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The iconic Hongqi CA770 was owned by few and feared by many when it was new. It was powered by a V* and based off a Chrysler chassis from the 1950s.

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The faux Le Mans racing Oldsmobile

PHOTO: Clayton Seams, Driving

The Beijing Auto Museum is an intriguing mix of famous classics and mysterious Chinese cars

By Clayton Seams

Originally published: May 1, 2014

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The Beijing Auto Museum is an impressive facility. Opened in 2011, it covers 50,000 square metres and is China’s first government-funded car museum. The museum officially contains 80 cars (though I suspect that number is actually a little more than 100) and the collection is spread out over five floors.

The information plaques can be a little amusing at times but we’re just thankful that they’re translated into English!Clayton Seams, Driving

Though the museum has been around for a few years, official information is hard to find thanks to a buggy website that works only in Chinese. Though the website is difficult to navigate as an English speaker, all the plaques and signs in the museum are translated into English. Despite the sometimes humorous translations, a clear effort has been made to make the museum an international attraction.

The collection spans a wide range of cars from a third generation Supra to a 1920s Rolls Royce.Clayton Seams, Driving

The museum is impressive from the exterior but awe-inspiring from the inside. There’s a slowly rotating car lift that cycles cars in a ferris wheel fashion so they can be seen on either of the top two floors. The layout puts visitors on the top floor first, and then you wind your way down through four levels of different exhibits. I was not prepared for such an expansive museum!

The exhibits are geared more toward casual car lovers and kids rather than die-hard enthusiasts. There are many interactive displays in the museum ranging from a simulated wind tunnel to a car that can be digitally “painted” by visitors. One of the coolest interactive features of the museum was a very accurate driving simulator. It was fitted with pedals including a working clutch, a handbrake, H pattern shifter and steering wheel. The simulator put you in an anonymous compact car on the streets and highways of China without traffic. However Beijing without traffic is hardly realistic. Nevertheless, it was a ton of fun to modulate the simulated clutch and fling this poor polygon vehicle around the streets of Beijing. And it was great to watch little kids learn to drive stick!

There are many blue-chip sports cars in the collection like this blue-eyed Jaguar XK120Clayton Seams, Driving

The crop of featured cars was a deeply intriguing mix of blue-chip classics and strange Chinese cars. Headlining automotive attractions include a Ferrari Dino GT, Jaguar XK120, Lincoln V12 Phaeton and a glorious Bugatti Type 38A. There was also an impressive display of black Chinese sedans used by dignitaries and officials such as Volgas and Hongqis. It was very interesting to see these China-only cars up close as they very rarely ever make it to North America.

A museum visitor looks at an early Hongqi based off an old Packard platform. The gold script to the right reads “as hot as fire”Clayton Seams, Driving

The Hongqi CA770 was particularly impressive. Detailing included a red flag hood ornament and Chinese characters in chrome that spelled “red flag” which is the literal translation of Hongqi. The 2,730 kg sedan is powered by a 5.7 litre V8 producing 220 horsepower. We can assume that the acceleration is “regal.” Famous CA770 passengers include Mao Zedong and Richard Nixon.

If you’re a car enthusiast in Beijing, a visit to the Beijing Auto Museum is a must. Admission is about $9 Canadian and it’s a 30 to 45 minute drive from central Beijing. It really is one of those wonderful places where hours can melt away so be prepared to spend a decent amount of time. To save you a trip to their aggravating website, the museum’s address is 126 South 4th Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100070. Make sure to eat one of the chocolate VW Beetles when you visit!